Russia captain Andrei Arshavin is
out of Saturday's 2010 World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein
and could miss the clash with Wales four days later after
suffering a groin injury.

The Arsenal forward picked up the injury playing for his
club in Saturday's 2-1 league defeat by Manchester United.

"Hopefully with some rest and intensive treatment we could
get him ready for the Wales match," Russia coach Guus Hiddink
told Reuters on Tuesday.

"It's hard to give a definite answer right now but we should
know more about his injury in the next few days."

Russia, second in Group Four, trailing leaders Germany by
four points with a game in hand, host Liechtenstein in St
Petersburg before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales on Sept.9.

"I definitely won't be ready to play against Liechtenstein,"
Arshavin was quoted as saying by local media on Tuesday.

"But I think I have a good chance to play in Cardiff as we
still have nine days before that match."

Russia central defender Denis Kolodin will miss both
qualifiers with a hamstring problem while Chelsea winger Yuri
Zhirkov remains questionable for the Liechtenstein game after
just coming back from a knee injury.